Common Cold Healing Diet

Submitted by Loring A. Windblad on March 18, 2010

Diet Tips For Treating Common Cold

Common cold refers to the infection and inflammation of the upper respiratory tract due to a viral attack. The most common symptoms of common cold are soreness in the throat, nasal congestion, repeated sneezing, headache, mild rise in body temperature, body aches and loss of appetite.

Common cold gets cured naturally within a week or so. However, you should take a few dietary precautions in order that the symptoms do not get worse. Make sure that you do not eat or drink anything that is colder than room temperature, as this can increase the soreness in the throat and prolong the infection.

Thus, cold drinks and ice-cream are best avoided when you have a cold. It is also advisable to stay away from non-vegetarian food such as fish, eggs and meat, as well as from cheese and rice, as they tend to increase body temperature and aggravate the symptoms of cold.

You should consume vegetable juices diluted with water to keep your body well hydrated and to supply vital nutrients to boost your immunity.

You should also eat generous amounts of nuts, grains and fruits to prevent weakening of the system. However, avoid fruits like papayas, sweet lemons, raw bananas, oranges and watermelons.

In addition to these basic measures, you may also follow a few simple home remedies to cure common cold naturally.

You should mix equal portions of cinnamon and nutmeg powders and eat a pinch of this mixture twice a day, in the morning and evening, to get quick relief from cold. If you feel congestion in your chest, eat a couple of dates twice a day and drink a glass of water after that. This helps loosen and expel phlegm accumulated in the chest cavity and provides relief from cold.

Eating a few cloves of raw garlic before or during meals is also known to be useful in preventing and curing common cold. If you have a hollow, dry cough mix a tablespoon of honey in a small cup of warm water and drink this solution thrice a day. This acts as a natural decongestant. Another popular remedy for cold is to crush a few basil leaves and a small piece of raw ginger with a teaspoon of honey and consume this mixture every day.

You may also mix a teaspoon of raw turmeric powder in a glass of lukewarm milk and drink this infusion every night before going to bed. This is an excellent remedy for defending the body against common viral infections like cold.